'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎305] (328/448)

Their JErd,Toe try.
more agile and flexible in their body than we in£m^ be, where bathing is not fo much~
ufed.
In antique paths of ignorance theychufe rather to tread, than by any new invention to
call in queftion the reverend judgment of their Anceftors. Hence it is, that they continue
their maimed Calculations, out of a blind conceit that Antiquity commanded them* for
they have ufed to Compute their years rather by the Moon, than by the motion of the Sun •
affirming, That the Firmament or eighth Heaven finifhes its revolution in two and thirty
years: which is falfe; his diurnal motion from Eaft to Weft compleating it felf in four
and twenty hours v his other from Weft to Eaft, but one degree in an hundred years • fuch
is the violence of the firft mover. Notwithftanding, k is probable they mean the Heaven
of Saturn which adjoineth it, (whofe revolution comes near their time) finiihing its jour
ney from Weft to Eaft in thirty years. Hence their Lunary account is become fubjed to
errour, reckoning from the Autumnal iEquinox twelve Moons, the number of days in
a whole year three hundred fifty three: fo that our Solar Computation exceeds theirs
twelve days at leaft every year ^ whereby it comes to pafs, that thirty of our years make
one and thirty of theirs whence the difference arifes 'twixt us and them in their Hegy-
rath, which by protrad will doubtlefs occafion more confufion.
Thefe differences in Accompt were obferved of old: For, the Caldean Aftrologers who
kept the Regifters of Time, perfwaded Cdifthems (Ariflotleh Nephew, and an Attendant
upon Alexander at Babylon) that their Records afcended forty three thoufand years:
which Diod. Sicdm lib. 8. i. by reducing to Months, found to reach precifely unto the
Creation, and no further. The Egyptians ufed the like accompt ^ for they (as Scion re
ported ; pretended Annals of nine thoufand years: which Plutarch by the like computati
on found to intend Months or Moons rather than years. But the Iberians who boafted of
the Antiquity of their knowledge in Letters, and of having prefidents of fix thoufand
years, their year was found to confift of four months; which being likewife calculated was
found to fall fhort of the time that Mofes lived. But whereas the Jews ever computed
their times by Jubilees, the Chriftians by Indiftions, the Romans by Lufira's, and the Greeks
by Olympiads thefe that follow Mahomet have a different Epoche to accompt by; as the
C£ra Gelalina from Geladin, zAEra Jez^dgirdina from Je^dgird beiides the Hegyra they
kave from Mahomet, which is their Epocha or accompt of Time.
Such as pradife manufadures have an inferiour repute to theSouldiers: neverthelefs
they live plentifully, and more fecure from the jealous eye of the King than do the great
ones, who oft deceive their thoughts that they are happier. ThePeafantshere aselfe-
where in Afia are (laves; they dare call nothing their own •, fuch is the rapine of the Begs
of that Country i nay, every Coofel-baih dares domineer, as we could perceive in our
travel: yet upon complaint, the Caufee ordinarily yieldsthemreafonable juftice.
The Perfians had this Charader of old, Cm&orum homimm [unt mitijfimi, of all men the
moft civil •, which difpofition they referve unto this day, being generally of a very gentle
and obliging Nature; facetious, harmlefs in difcourfe, and little inquifitive after exotique
news feldom exceeding this demand. If fuch and fuch a Country have good wine, fair wo
men, ferviceable Horfes, and well tempered Swords. Few of them can read, yet honour
fuch as can-, that Science being monopolized by Church-men, Clerks, Santos, and Mer
chants. Some little skill they have in Mufick that they have refembling the Doric and
Phrygic, a foft and lofty fort of Confort. Above all Poetry lulls them, that Genius
feeming properly to delight it felf amongft them > Howbeit, Mimographers I muft call
them, their common Ballads refunding out the merry difports of Mars and hisMiftrefs,
to which Saints they dedicate their amorous devotion. Abul-Cafen who lived A. Heg.
385. Elgaazuly, Ibml-Faridy and Elfargani are their principal Poets in thofe fancies-
Nor have I read that amongft the Romans, or in any other parts, Poetry has been better
rewarded; witnefs Poet Mervan,. who for thofe 70 Diftichs which he prefented Mahomet
the great Almanfor's Son, received as a reward 70000 Staters. Taher .alfo who was Gene
ral to King Abderhaymon, for three Verfes which a Poet gave him, requited him with
300000 pieces of Gold : and Abdalla his Son, (he who for cure of a Confumption fed on
ly upon Lions fleih boiled in red Vinegar, of which confedion he took two drams daily,)
was no lefs liberal to that Art, and as I might inftance in many other Princes of the So-
phian Pedegree of later times, not a little to their reputation. And how lame foever
the Verfes are, their graceful fhaki-ng their notes in chanting and quavering (after the
French air) giv^s it to the ear harmonious. So that in my opinion it was rigidly faid by a
Father, when he called Poefie Vinum D^monum: for (fays the Lord feruiam) Poelie not on
ly refrelhes the Soul by chanting things rare and various, but alfo exalts the fpirits with
high rapturesand being joined with Mulick fweetly inilnuates it felf, fo as it has been
R r efteemed